SNP in pledge to ‘revitalise’ Glasgow including support for Winter Gardens

First Minister John Swinney is to unveil new investment to “revitalise” Glasgow, including support to complete the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.

During a campaign visit, Mr Swinney will confirm new measures to make Glasgow “flourish”, including the establishment of an urban development corporation for the city centre.

The SNP will offer to take on responsibility for the maintenance of the Clyde Tunnel to free around £1 million of cost to the local authority and support the next stages of the feasibility work on the Clyde Metro proposal.

The party is also pledging to provide support to complete the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens to ensure they are reopened to the public.

The First Minister said: “Glasgow is one of Scotland’s greatest economic assets – a cosmopolitan, thriving city, blessed with outstanding strengths and huge potential.

“I want to build on that potential and make sure Glasgow is everything it can be. That is why I will establish an urban regeneration company for Glasgow to revitalise the areas of the city centre that need it and drive economic growth.

“I will take action on a site which holds a special place in the heart of many Glaswegians, providing support the city needs to complete the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens, and get them reopened to the public again.”

Plans also include opening two additional GP walk-in centres in the north-west and southside of the city, in addition to the site already planned for Cardonald.

Mr Swinney continued: “The plans I am setting out today honour Glasgow’s past and focus on the city’s future.

“Because unlike others who want to talk this great city down, I am clear that Glasgow’s best days are ahead of it.

“The SNP is always on Glasgow’s side – and as First Minister I will do everything I can to make Glasgow flourish.”

Scottish Labour criticised the proposals, saying the SNP has “completely failed” Glasgow over the last decade.

Scottish Labour candidate for Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn Paul Sweeney said: “It takes a real brass neck for John Swinney to boast that he is on Glasgow’s side when his party has completely failed the city over the last decade.

“For years, SNP ministers have treated Glasgow as an afterthought. They decimated the council’s budget by cutting over £1 billion from it and allowed vital services such as street cleaning and roads maintenance to fall below the standards we need.

“They have also dragged their feet on bringing our buses back under public control while similar big cities like Manchester forge ahead.

“It is only now – four weeks out from an election – that Swinney is finally promising to act to clean up the SNP’s own mess. People will not be fooled by this last-minute attempt to portray himself as someone who cares about the city.

“Glasgow is a world-class city but it is being held by a dismal SNP government which has no vision and no ambition for it.

“Scottish Labour will back local businesses and high streets by reforming business rates, fixing the roads, cleaning up our streets by delivering fair funding for Glasgow City Council and tackling crime and antisocial behaviour by boosting community policing.

“Glasgow deserves far better than this useless SNP government. In May, Scottish Labour will give the people of Scotland the chance to choose a new direction with Anas Sarwar.”